Brighton

Brighton

Originally named Hughes Station, Brighton is a rapidly growing northeastern Denver suburb that has served as a prominent railroad depot and farming community since it was founded in the 1870s. Today, Brighton still maintains its original rural feel with plenty of land and open space, including a large, scenic state park. Barr Lake State Park is one of Brighton’s most popular attractions and offers all different kinds of activities for the outdoor enthusiast, including hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, and fishing. Another popular event hosted by Brighton is the annual Adams County Fair, where many people around Denver come to enjoy fair rides, funnel cakes, country music, as well as enjoy a local pie baking contest. A unique tradition at the Adams County Fair is Tomato Day, where two teams have a tomato-throwing contest against one another. This event dates back to 1904 where the two political parties associated with the county offices wore white and faced off against one another in a fun-filled event that marked the start to the Fair. Other highlights of Brighton include being home to Todd Helton and Brian Shaw. Todd Helton is a retired professional first baseman for the Colorado Rockies, where he spent his entire 17-year career; and Brian Shaw is a professional strongman competitor, and 4-time winner of the World’s Strongest Man competition.